The CHUCK Movie I Don’t Want

Anyone who has read this blog over the years knows that I am a huge fan of the show CHUCK (owned by WB but had its series run on NBC in the US).

Over time I have built up something of a CHUCK fandom following. It’s not particularly large but it, for some reason, is interested in what I have to say about it. Over the past year or so, since CHUCK ended its 91 episode run, people have asked for my opinions regarding various topics centered on the past, present, and future of the show. One of those questions is “What would you like to see in a CHUCK movie?”

I feel answering that is fan-fiction territory. I didn’t create the show and I’m not looking to forward my vision of how the story should go. I can critique missteps or praise what I consider good choices, but detailing the movie I want feels wrong.

However, I feel comfortable in detailing what I don’t want in a CHUCK movie:

1. A movie that seeks to outright answer the CHUCK series finale moment. Though I thought it wasn’t executed well, I know what the writers were trying to do. They didn’t want it left up in the air for the viewers to decide. They were trying to be cute about telling the obvious. It was stupid. It didn’t work as intended. It didn’t fit the show they had created over five years. But I don’t need a scene in the movie where one character looks at another character and declares “I remember!”
2. Episode 92. No thanks. The show got its ending. I loved the series but I will never say it ended too early. If anything, I think it ended a season too late. Minus a few episodes, season 5 was a hot mess of lower-budget and lesser-ideas. Season 4 was the perfect outpoint. So if you are going to continue it, don’t just tell another story pulled from the potential 92nd episode. Tell an epic story utilizing the characters people know and love. Make it big(ish) or don’t make it.
3. A movie made for $2 million. That’s not this show. They could barely make an episode for that. Also, see point 2.
4. A movie written by the fans. Yes, this is an actual suggestion by some people around the Internet. Because fan-fiction is such a respected art form that we need to hand the reigns over to some delusional wannabes who are convinced they are more capable writers than the creators of the show-they-claim-to-love. Plus, the biggest fan of the show is its creator, Chris Fedak.
5. That has anyone else as the Intersect story-line. Don’t we have enough people with the Intersect already?
6. Where people return from the dead for any reason. That would wipe out the danger and loss the series actually created by bumping off a few characters that were meaningful to Chuck.
7. Any storyline that is an attempt to create retroactive continuity for some new story development that happened in a character’s past. This stuff rarely works (if ever). It is better to focus on new stories that involve characters moving forward. The “hey, maybe Sarah had a sister who wasn’t her sister but is now her adopted sister who she had a motherly protective instinct about a decade ago but is now a family member we never heard of or saw before because it was a super important secret and that explains why Sarah’s mom blahblahblah and will never see again because this show was just pulling a one-off out of its ass” stuff is ridiculous to anyone using their brain.
8. One that focuses only on Chuck and Sarah. It would probably be cheaper but... see point 2 again.
9. A prequel.
10. Something written without an Ali "I Love Love" Adler writing credit. Once she left the show, things kind of went downhill.

So what do you NOT want in a CHUCK movie? Comment below.

Please, no fan-fiction.

Also, check out my article "Why NOT Kickstarter" for related material.

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Global CHUCK Party! 26 January 2013!

On 27 January, 2012 CHUCK ended a run that lasted 91 episodes. It had millions of fans. And they must celebrate its life every year for eternity!

The plan is to commemorate this first year anniversary on the final Saturday of this month. Why then? Because it is the best time to get fans around the planet together!

We will have a viewing party online via Twitter, Facebook, MySpace (just kidding), and whatever other place you can find to spread the word, and share in the joy of CHUCK.

How does it work? Well, you load up your DVD or Blu-Ray or iTunes or some other (il)legal method and watch the episode(s) with the rest of us.

Also, the old ChuckYouTuesday podcast group (well, those still around and talking to me) will be gathering to record a viewing party where we watch an episode, record what we have to say about it, and then post it for you to enjoy! Our episode of choice is Chuck Versus the Colonel.

I am sure we will also be tweeting along with you all. Or Facebooking.

Or MySpaceing (clearly kidding, come on).

We will be using the hashtags #Chuck and #Chuckiversary on Twitter.

So...

DATE: 26 January, 2013
TIME: 4PM EST (9PM GMT) until 8PM EST (1AM GMT)
EPIS.: 1.01 (Pilot); 2.14 (Best Friend); 2.21 (Colonel); 3.14 (Honeymooners)

CLICK HERE to find out how many hours difference your area is from EST.

You do not need to watch every episode with us. This is just the plan for those of us nutty enough to watch them all. But do remember to Tweet or Facebook or MySpace (oh Justin Timberlake, what were you thinking?) the crew and actors who worked on the show and tell them whatever you want to tell them. I recommend something nice.

We can finish off the weekend by joining together on the 27th to watch episode 4.13 (Push Mix) at 8PM EST (1AM GMT) which will mark the exact date and hour of the final evening of CHUCK ever.

So, are you in? Comment below! Or just check the comments below for any more information as it becomes available.
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